The PGA TOUR heads to Detroit Golf Club for the Rocket Mortgage Classic for the sixth consecutive year. The course, designed by Donald Ross, features a 7,370-yard par 72 layout with Bentgrass greens. The front and back nines present different challenges, with the front being tree-lined and the back having a wide-open setup. The event is expected to be a low-scoring affair, as evidenced by past winners producing winning scores of -23 or better. The tournament will host 156 entrants, including twelve of the top 50 players in the OWGR like Cameron Young, Akshay Bhatia, and Rickie Fowler.
Key metrics for Detroit Golf Club include Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, Strokes Gained: Approach, Par 5 Scoring Average, Birdie or Better Percentage, and Strokes Gained: Total on Donald Ross Designs. Players like Bryson DeChambeau, Tony Finau, and Taylor Pendrith have had success on wide-open holes at the back nine, benefitting big hitters. Approaching greens from the fairway will be crucial for success at the course, highlighting the importance of Strokes Gained: Approach. Taking advantage of the par 5s, averaging under par, will be necessary for players to contend. The tournament is expected to be a birdie-fest, requiring players to score well.
Model rankings based on key statistical categories like Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, Strokes Gained: Approach, Birdie or Better Percentage, Par 5 Scoring Average, and Strokes Gained: Donald Ross are used to identify potential contenders. The model ranks players like Davis Thompson, Aaron Rai, Ben Griffin, Lanto Griffin, and Taylor Pendrith highly. Picks for the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic include Min Woo Lee, Maverick McNealy, Matt Wallace, Alejandro Tosti, and Cameron Champ. Lee, a consistent player, excels off the tee and is a strong putter, making him a contender. McNealy has shown improved form and is a strong putter, while Wallace is playing well recently and has experience at Detroit Golf Club.
Tosti’s long drives off the tee make him a good fit for the course, despite not having played it before. Champ, despite poor form this season, possesses the ability to hit the ball far and could excel at Detroit Golf Club. The event has seen leaderboard correlation with the 3M Open, where Champ previously won. The unique characteristics of each player make them interesting contenders in a weaker PGA Tour field. Overall, the Rocket Mortgage Classic is set to be an exciting tournament with a mix of experienced players and up-and-coming talent vying for the title.
